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paradav
Guest
what is the function of the sign at Cana. Jn 2:1-12. What is the meaning of change the water in wine?
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Della
Guest
Hello paradav. Is English your first language? I ask because your first question makes no sense.
As to your 2nd question, the primary or first reason was to answer Mary’s prayer for the bride and groom–to meet their need of more wine.
Do you mean what is the spiritual meaning? The story has many good spiritual meanings, but as to why water was turned into wine, the answer is it was a prefigurement of the Eucharist in which ordinary wine is turned into the blood of Christ–although the whole presence of Christ is as much in the consecrated wine as in the consecrated bread.
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Todd_Easton
Guest
Commenting on John 2:11, A Commentary on the New Testament, prepared by the Catholic Biblical Association, 1942, on page 304, says in part:
His disciples believed in him: while the miracle may have had other motives, such as regard for His mother, kindness to His host, approval of the occasion, insinuation of the transubstantiation of the Eucharist, yet the Evangelist implies that the first motive was the confirmation of the incipient faith of the disciples.
His disciples believed in him: while the miracle may have had other motives, such as regard for His mother, kindness to His host, approval of the occasion, insinuation of the transubstantiation of the Eucharist, yet the Evangelist implies that the first motive was the confirmation of the incipient faith of the disciples.
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NotWorthy
Guest
From Tim Gray’s “Luminous Mysteries”:
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn. 2:11). This sets the tone for understanding of Jesus’ entire public ministry. The water being transformed into “good wine” symbolizes the movement from the Old Covenant to the New. Water from the Jewish rites of purification served as a symbol of the old covenant, which is reaching its culmination in Christ. On the other hand, the prophets used the image of overflowing wine to symbolize the blessings God would bestow on Israel in the messianic age (see Is. 25:6; Jer. 31:12; Joel 3:18; Am 9:13). Therefore, Jesus’ miracle of turning the water from the ritual cleansing jars into an overabundance of wine expresses the fact that the new covenant era is here. Furthermore, what Christ has done in those dirty purification jars he wishes to do in each of us: *cleanse us *of our sins and transform us into “good wine”.
Notworthy
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him” (Jn. 2:11). This sets the tone for understanding of Jesus’ entire public ministry. The water being transformed into “good wine” symbolizes the movement from the Old Covenant to the New. Water from the Jewish rites of purification served as a symbol of the old covenant, which is reaching its culmination in Christ. On the other hand, the prophets used the image of overflowing wine to symbolize the blessings God would bestow on Israel in the messianic age (see Is. 25:6; Jer. 31:12; Joel 3:18; Am 9:13). Therefore, Jesus’ miracle of turning the water from the ritual cleansing jars into an overabundance of wine expresses the fact that the new covenant era is here. Furthermore, what Christ has done in those dirty purification jars he wishes to do in each of us: *cleanse us *of our sins and transform us into “good wine”.
Notworthy
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NotWorthy
Guest
Scott Hahn also used the term “my hour” throughout John’s Gospel to pre-figure the Eucharist. Here’s an Excerpt:
Besides the obvious literal meaning - the historical event of the Cross - what else have we learned about Jesus’ understanding of the hour? In the hour:
Ø We gather together as “Greeks” and “Jews” to celebrate the new Passover (cf. Jn. 4:23, 12:20, 13:1).
Ø We hear God’s Word in order to receive new life (cf. Jn. 5:25).
Ø We are empowered to worship in a new way: in spirit and truth (cf. Jn. 4:23-24).
Ø We will see the Lamb of God lifted up, drawing all men to Himself (cf. Jn. 12:32).
Ø We receive wine, the best wine (cf. Jn. 2:1-11)
Ø We receive the living bread, the fruit borne of the grain of wheat that has died (cf. Jn. 12:23-24).
Let’s take another look at the list: bread and wine, the Word of the Lord, spiritual worship, a new Passover for Jews and Greeks, and we are lifted up with God. What does this add up to? Of course, it’s the Mass! The Mass is the hour when all this takes place - and Jesus knew it from the start. Moreover, He prepared his mother and disciples to grasp the deeper mystery of how His self-offering on the Cross would be re-presented for all time. At Mass, we receive bread of finest wheat, with the best of wine. There, we offer spiritual worship that is open to all people. There, we hear the Word of God and receive forgiveness for our sins - new life amid spiritual death. There, we mark the new Passover and behold the Lamb of God, “who takes away the sins of the world.”
It’s a very good subject. If you send me and e-mail I’ll attach the whole story behind “the hour”.
Notworthy
Besides the obvious literal meaning - the historical event of the Cross - what else have we learned about Jesus’ understanding of the hour? In the hour:
Ø We gather together as “Greeks” and “Jews” to celebrate the new Passover (cf. Jn. 4:23, 12:20, 13:1).
Ø We hear God’s Word in order to receive new life (cf. Jn. 5:25).
Ø We are empowered to worship in a new way: in spirit and truth (cf. Jn. 4:23-24).
Ø We will see the Lamb of God lifted up, drawing all men to Himself (cf. Jn. 12:32).
Ø We receive wine, the best wine (cf. Jn. 2:1-11)
Ø We receive the living bread, the fruit borne of the grain of wheat that has died (cf. Jn. 12:23-24).
Let’s take another look at the list: bread and wine, the Word of the Lord, spiritual worship, a new Passover for Jews and Greeks, and we are lifted up with God. What does this add up to? Of course, it’s the Mass! The Mass is the hour when all this takes place - and Jesus knew it from the start. Moreover, He prepared his mother and disciples to grasp the deeper mystery of how His self-offering on the Cross would be re-presented for all time. At Mass, we receive bread of finest wheat, with the best of wine. There, we offer spiritual worship that is open to all people. There, we hear the Word of God and receive forgiveness for our sins - new life amid spiritual death. There, we mark the new Passover and behold the Lamb of God, “who takes away the sins of the world.”
It’s a very good subject. If you send me and e-mail I’ll attach the whole story behind “the hour”.
Notworthy
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wisdom_3_5
Guest
On yet another level, I think that it also can show us how we will be transformed by Jesus. Our bodies are 70% water. Water is odorless, colorless, tasteless etc. Us before our transformation to Christ.
Wine is flavorful, a deep rich color (red wine, like blood) and has a fragrance called “bouquet”. This ties in to other bible verses where we are called to be the salt of the earth and to have a pleasing odor to God.
The Gospel of John is so multi-faceted and rich, yet it all points to Christ. I’m sure there are more ways of viewing this miracle than these.
Wine is flavorful, a deep rich color (red wine, like blood) and has a fragrance called “bouquet”. This ties in to other bible verses where we are called to be the salt of the earth and to have a pleasing odor to God.
The Gospel of John is so multi-faceted and rich, yet it all points to Christ. I’m sure there are more ways of viewing this miracle than these.
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davethecatholic
Guest
Here’s what The Catechism has to say:
1613 On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign - at his mother’s request - during a wedding feast. 105 The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence.
2618 The Gospel reveals to us how Mary prays and intercedes in faith. At Cana, 89 the mother of Jesus asks her son for the needs of a wedding feast; this is the **sign of another feast ** - that of the wedding of the Lamb where he gives his body and blood at the request of the Church, his Bride. It is at the hour of the New Covenant, at the foot of the cross, 90 that Mary is heard as the Woman, the new Eve, the true “Mother of all the living.”
1613 On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign - at his mother’s request - during a wedding feast. 105 The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence.
2618 The Gospel reveals to us how Mary prays and intercedes in faith. At Cana, 89 the mother of Jesus asks her son for the needs of a wedding feast; this is the **sign of another feast ** - that of the wedding of the Lamb where he gives his body and blood at the request of the Church, his Bride. It is at the hour of the New Covenant, at the foot of the cross, 90 that Mary is heard as the Woman, the new Eve, the true “Mother of all the living.”
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thistle
Guest
In his book The Rosary: Chain of Hope, Father Groeschel talks about the wedding at Cana and he says “The marriage feast of Cana is not only a sign of Christ beginning to manifest Himself to the world - part of the Epiphany - but it is also the beginning of the revelation of the Holy Eucharist. The astonishing transformation of the substance of water into the substance of wine (which has been called water in excelsis) is meant to prepare human minds for the changing of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ”.
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